A matchup of top heavyweights will headline MLW Never Say Never 2021.
On this week’s episode of MLW Fusion, it was announced that Jacob Fatu will defend his MLW World Heavyweight Championship against Calvin Tankman in the main event of Never Say Never. Never Say Never will air for free on MLW’s YouTube channel at 7 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, March 31. It will also be available via MLW’s other platforms.
Fatu retained his MLW World Heavyweight Championship against Jordan Oliver on last week’s Fusion. Contra Unit attacked Oliver and Myron Reed in a post-match angle and the Sentai Death Squad were going to put Oliver and Reed in body bags, but Tankman came down to make the save. Tankman cleaned house and then faced off with Fatu. Tankman dropped Fatu with a shoulder block.
Fatu has been MLW World Heavyweight Champion since defeating Tom Lawlor for the title in July 2019. Fatu’s match against Tankman will be his ninth title defense.
Tankman is undefeated in the four matches he’s had for MLW. He defeated Laredo Kid on last week’s Fusion.
Fatu vs. Tankman is the first match that’s been announced for Never Say Never.
MLW returned to the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York on Thursday for their Never Say Never set of television tapings.
– Contra Unit laid out Ariel Dominguez & Jay Sky.
– Mance Warner defeated Ricky Martinez
– Low Ki defeated Jimmy Yuta
Low Ki won in about a minute with a KO elbow.
– Davey Boy Smith Jr. defeated Timothy Thatcher
This was an excellent matchup. Georgia Smith, Davey’s sister, came out to interview him after. Davey called out Alexander Hammerstone and said that his sister was dating Hammerstone and he was not happy.
– Ross & Marshall Von Erich defeated The Spirit Squad (Kenn Doane & Mike Mondo)
The Von Erichs answered The Spirit Squad’s open challenge. For some reason, the Von Erich music played through the whole match.
Contra Unit came out after and attacked the Von Erichs with help from a new member that spit mist on one of the Von Erich’s eyes.
– Injustice (Kotto Brazil, Myron Reed & Jordan Oliver) defeated Gringo Loco, Air Wolf & Zenshi
They had a great lucha match.
– Brian Pillman Jr. defeated Richard Holliday
– Bestia 666 defeated Rey Horus
There was then a Salina de la Renta segment with Konnan where Konnan gave de la Renta back her missing phone but said that he told Savio Vega that she was withholding a bonus paycheck from him. Vega came out and ripped up his contract with de la Renta
– MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone defeated Savio Vega to retain his title
MJF and Richard Holliday were at ringside and interfered a bunch
– Austin Aries defeated Ace Austin
They had a good match. After winning, Aries cut a promo and said that this was a new him and he’s coming for the Middleweight Championship. He mentioned that the last time he was at the Melrose Ballroom was controversial. Aries then got into it with a fan and they had a shoving match and had to be separated.
– MLW Middleweight Champion Teddy Hart defeated MJF to retain his title.
Hart won a crazy match when he jumped off the top rope and hit a Canadian Destroyer. Aria Blake had been thrown out from ringside prior to that. Queens absolutely loves Hart — he gets the biggest pop every time he’s here.
– MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu defeated Tom Lawlor to retain his title
Great match. Contra Unit attacked Lawlor after to add insult to injury. The Von Erichs attempted the save, but they were thwarted as it was four-on-three. Low Ki then made the save and sent Contra packing.
Lawlor and Low Ki, who feuded for months, had a staredown in the ring and shook hands to a roar from the crowd.
– Zenshi defeated El Hijo de LA Park
Zenshi won in a great lucha match.
– LA Park defeated Jimmy Havoc in a street fight
This was an absolutely wild street fight. De la Renta made Park and Havoc, who are both members of Promociones Dorado, shake hands after.
Mance Warner came out with a chainsaw while Park and Havoc were splitting up the dollars people were throwing in the ring and chased them away. Warner then did a victory lap around the arena, taking pictures with fans and drinking beers.
Before everyone left, Teddy Hart came out to thank everyone for coming out on a work night and said the boys in the back are appreciative that we support them and allow them to travel the world. The crowd doused him in “Teddy” chants, but he said he wanted to hear an MLW chant to end the night.
Savio Vega is getting a title shot in his MLW debut.
MLW has announced that National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone will defend his title against Vega at next week’s Never Say Never television tapings. Dave Meltzer reported that Vega will be both an agent and a part-time wrestler in MLW and was recommended by Steve Austin.
Hammerstone became the inaugural National Openweight Champion by defeating Brian Pillman Jr. in the finals of a four-wrestler tournament last month. Hammerstone also defeated Gringo Loco in the tournament.
Never Say Never is taking place at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York on Thursday, July 25. Here’s the updated lineup:
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu defending against Tom Lawlor
LA Park vs. Jimmy Havoc
Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Timothy Thatcher
MLW Middleweight Champion Teddy Hart defending against MJF
Austin Aries vs. Ace Austin
Rey Horus vs. Bestia 666
National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone defending against Savio Vega
The Middleweight title will be on the line at MLW’s television tapings in New York City later this month.
MLW has announced that Middleweight Champion Teddy Hart will defend his title against MJF at Never Say Never. The tapings are taking place at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York on Thursday, July 25.
MJF was the inaugural MLW Middleweight Champion but had to relinquish the title in December 2018 due to an injury. Hart then won the vacant title in a ladder match.
The Hart Foundation (Hart, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Brian Pillman Jr.) have been involved in an ongoing program with The Dynasty (MJF, Richard Holliday & Alexander Hammerstone). MJF & Holliday won the Tag Team titles from Hart & Pillman in a ladder match that aired on last weekend’s episode of MLW Fusion.
Here’s the updated card for Never Say Never:
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu defending against Tom Lawlor
LA Park vs. Jimmy Havoc
Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Timothy Thatcher
MLW Middleweight Champion Teddy Hart defending against MJF
MLW has announced Austin Aries’ opponent for Never Say Never
Aries vs. Ace Austin is set for the tapings, which are taking place at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York on Thursday, July 25. This will be Aries’ second match for MLW since returning to the promotion.
After having had one match for MLW in February 2018, Aries returned at last month’s tapings in Waukesha, Wisconsin and defeated Adam Brooks. Aries then cut a post-match promo where he set his sights on the Middleweight title.
Teddy Hart is the current Middleweight Champion.
Ace Austin also wrestles for Impact Wrestling. Aries departed Impact after losing their World title at Bound for Glory 2018.
In a rematch from Kings of Colosseum, Jacob Fatu will defend his newly-won World Heavyweight Championship against Tom Lawlor at Never Say Never. Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Timothy Thatcher, LA Park vs. Jimmy Havoc, and Rey Horus vs. Bestia 666 are also set for the tapings.
MLW has announced when Tom Lawlor will be getting his World Championship rematch.
Jacob Fatu defending his World Heavyweight Championship against Lawlor is set for MLW’s Never Say Never tapings at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York on Thursday, July 25. This will be Fatu’s first defense of the title.
Fatu became MLW World Champion by defeating Lawlor in the main event of last weekend’s Kings of Colosseum live special. Along with Josef Samael and Simon Gotch, Fatu is part of MLW’s Contra Unit stable. The group debuted and attacked Lawlor at Intimidation Games this March.
Before losing the title to Fatu, Lawlor had been MLW World Champion since defeating Low Ki in February.
Two other matches have been announced for Never Say Never thus far. LA Park will face Jimmy Havoc, and Davey Boy Smith Jr. will take on Timothy Thatcher. Thatcher is making his MLW debut at the show.
Timothy Thatcher has an opponent for his first MLW show.
Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Thatcher has been announced for MLW’s Never Say Never television tapings, which are taking place at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York on Thursday, July 25. MLW is hyping the matchup as a first-time meeting between two wrestlers who are known for their grappling.
It was announced last month that Thatcher would be making his MLW debut at Never Say Never.
Thatcher is a former EVOLVE Champion, holding the title from July 2015 to February 2017. He regularly wrestles for wXw in Germany.
This is the second match announced for Never Say Never. LA Park vs. Jimmy Havoc is also set for the show.
Never Say Never will follow up on Kings of Colosseum and lead into the promotion’s War Chamber tapings. The NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas is hosting War Chamber on Saturday, September 7.
MLW has announced a first-time matchup between LA Park and Jimmy Havoc for later this month.
Park vs. Havoc is set for MLW’s Never Say Never set of television tapings at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York on Thursday, July 25. The match was originally set for MLW’s April 5 event in Queens, but Havoc was unable to wrestle at the show due to injury.
LA Park won the Battle Riot match on April 5, getting a future shot at MLW World Heavyweight Champion Tom Lawlor that he has yet to cash in.
Havoc challenged for the MLW Middleweight Championship at last month’s Fury Road live special, losing to Teddy Hart.
Ahead of Never Say Never, MLW has a set of TV tapings in Cicero, Illinois this Saturday (July 6). LA Park will team with El Hijo de LA Park against Dr. Wagner Jr. & El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. at those tapings.
